DSL and Assistant Head

Full Job Description

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Job title: Designated Safeguarding Lead/Assistant Head

Salary: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum

Location: Wessex Lodge School, Frome

Contact: Permanent; Term time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

About role

We are delighted to have the opportunity for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and flexible Designated Safeguarding Lead/Assistant Head to join our friendly and dynamic team at Wessex Lodge School.

The role

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is a senior member of staff who sits on the School Leadership Team, with lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety). As part of the Schools leadership team, you will effectively contribute towards the strategic partnership, and continued positive growth of the school.

Please note that this is a non-teaching role and having previous experience of working in a school is desirable but not essential.

Their additional responsibilities include providing advice and support to other staff on child welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters, taking part in strategy discussions and interagency meetings, and/or supporting other staff to do so, and to contributing to the assessment of children. The DSL will work closely with the school’s welfare team, and will be given the additional time, funding, training, resources and support they need to carry out the role effectively. A significant element of this role involves monitoring the school's safeguarding and welfare reporting platform and to triage concerns to the relevant member of staff in a timely manner.

Essential

• Educated to Level 3 safeguarding standard or above
• Good organisational and verbal and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to respond sensitively to others.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good records of attendance and punctuality
• Effective record keeping;
• Willingness to undertake further training
• Experience of liaising with parents and outside agencies.
• Commitment to CPD
• Commitment to equal opportunities principles and practices.
• Work flexible hours

About us

Wessex Lodge School comprises of three main sites: Wessex Lodge School, the main school where classroom-based activities take place; The Arc, which is mainly for the younger children and Triskele Farm, an alternative provision which is Care farm around 20 minutes’ drive from the main site. We have grown to support 40 students, aged 8-18. The majority of these students are day placements. Each student has individual needs based on developmental challenges, Social Emotional Mental Health difficulties or Autism. We support them using individual plans and the THRIVE approach.

The established staff team come from a variety of previous occupations and have individual skills, which can be utilised, within this school. So, if you have an interest and/or qualifications in animal care, horticulture, construction, outdoor education, forestry or any other specific trade or hobby, we would love to hear from you!

The benefits of working for this school are:

• Intensive training including a two-week induction and buddy system
• Enhanced DBS paid for
• Defined career pathways with support to achieve your goals
• Staff member of the week
• Wellbeing activities every couple of weeks
• Team building day every term
• Summer and Christmas events
• Access to shopping discounts, a wellbeing platform and a CPD online course account
• Make a real difference to children
• No day is the same so you will never be bored!

Why join Acorn Education & Care?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to a fully enhanced DBS.